Method and apparatus for sterilizing



March 21, 1933. v D H 1,902,625

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING Filed June 22, 1929 Japer/Ica fer I NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 21, 1933 l l I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR L. DUNHAM, F TOMPKINSVILLE, NEW YORK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING Application filed June 22, 1929. Serial No. 372,848.

This invention relates to improvements in sterilized and having a closure 21 for such methods of sterilizing and apparatus thereopening. 22 is a shelf for supporting the for. Its object is to provide an effective articles. The conduit 12 is connected with method of sterilization by the use of supera plurality of expansion nozzles, 13 suitably heated steam, which shall be efiective and positioned Within the chamber.

inexpensive, and to provide suitable appa- The superheated steam passes out of the ratus for sterilizing by this improved methchamber through pipes '14, in whichare od. According to the present invention, the valves 15, by means of which the pressure in sterilizing is efi'ected in a. closed chamber the chamber may be raised, if desired, and

which is heated to a desiredtemperature by the rate of its flow controlled. These valves the introduction of superheated steam at may be actuated automatically by a pressure comparatively low pressure. The sterilizaregulator 16. tion takes place in a dry atmosphere and so It is desirable to keep the atmosphere it is desirable to maintain the temperature within the chamber dry and for that pur- 15 within the chamber above the point of steam pose a heating coil 30 may be provided, connden ation, nected with the steam supply by apipe 31 I will describe my invention in the followand exhausting at 32. 33 is a thermostat aring specification, making use of a drawing ranged to control a valve 34 in the pipe 31 which shows a sterilizing chamber in secautomatically. By this means the tempera-* 90 tional elevation, and with the parts which ture within the chamber may be maincooperate with it shown more or less diatained above the point of condensation of grammatically, and will point out'its novel steam. features in appended claims. This apparatus may be large or small and In the drawing, 10 designates a pipe leadcapable of sterilizing the largest to the ing from a steam supply line into a supersmallest articles from hairpins to bedsteads heater 11, from which it is led by a conduit and mattresses. Articles placed within the.

. 12 to th sterilizing hamber. If desired, chamber 20 and subjected therein to the high the pressure and the temperature Within the temperature of superheated steam in consuperheater may be regulated by some such tinuous motion, become thoroughly steril- 80 means as those shown in Patent No. 1,398,- ized in a very short time. The sterilization 503, which was issued to me on November is effected by the liberation of heat units. 29, 1921. It is not necessary, according to This method may be practiced with other my invention, to use the superheated steam apparatus than that shown and. th apparaat a pressure much above atmospheric prestus itself may be modified greatly without 35 sure, as it is only necessary to maintain a depar-tingfrom the spirit and scope of the flow of the superheated steam through the invention, as defined in the appended claims. sterilizing chamber and to insure a penetra- What I claim is: tion of the hot steam into the article or a l. The herein described method of sterilizgoods treated. The larger diameter of the ing, which comprises raising the temperaconduit 12, compared to that of the pipe 10 ture of a closed chamber at least to the point is intended as a diagrammatic representaof condensation of steam, placing anarticle tion of a means for reducing the pressure of to be sterilized in said chamber, passing a the superheated steam. current of superheated steam through the 20 is an insulated chamber, open 'at one chamber, and maintaining a desired constant end for the reception of the articles to be pressure within the chamber. W

2. The herein described method of sterilizing, which comprises placing an" article to be sterilized in a closed chamber, maintaining the temperature within the chamber above the point of condensation of steam, and passing a current of superheated steam through the chamber.

- 3. The herein described method of sterilizing, which comprises-placing an article to be sterilized in a closed chamber, maintaining the temperature within the chamber above the point of condensation of steam, passin a current of superheated steam throug the chamber, and maintaining a desired constant pressure within thecham- 4. A chamber provided with an opening for the introduction of an article to be sterilized, means for closing the opening, a source of superheated steam, means for passing a current of superheated steam into the chamber, and an adjustable outlet for the superheated steam.

5. A chamber provided with an opening for the introduction of an article to be sterilized, means for closing the opening, means for raising the temperature within the chamber, a source of superheated steam, and means for passing a current of the superheated steam into and out of the chamber.

6. A chamber rovided' with an opening for the introductlon of an article to be sterilized, meansjor closing the opening, means for raising the temperature within the chamber, a source of superheated steam, means .for passing a current of the superheated steam into the chamber, and an adjustable outlet for the superheated steam.

7. A chamber provided with an opening for the introductlon of an article to be sterilized, means for closing the opening, a

- said coil, a source of superheated steam, an. expansion nozzle for passing the superheated an adjustable outlet for regulating cape of the superheated steam. I

10. A chamber provided with aniopening for the introduction of an article tobe sterilized, means for closing the opening, a steam coil for raising the-temperature within the chamber, temperature actuated means for controlling the circulation of steamin said coil, a source of superheated steam, an expansion nozzle for assing the superheated steam into the cham er at low pressure, an outlet for-the superheated steam, and pressure controlled means for automatically adjusting the outlet.

ARTHUR L. DUNHAM.

the esfor the introduction of an article to be sterilized, means for closing the opening, a steam coil for raising the temperature with-' in the, chamber, a source of superheated steam, an expansion nozzle for passing the superheated steam into the chamber at low pressure, and an adjustable outlet for regv ulating the escape of the superheated steam. 9. A chamber provided with an opening for the introduction of an article to be sterilized, means for closing the opening, a steam coil for raising the temperature within the chamber, temperature actuated means for controlling the circulation of steam in steam into the chamber at low pressure, and 

